The famous Triennial Festivals up to the Second World War frequently ended with scenes from Wagner's music dramas, 'bleeding chunks of Wagner' as they were described by Sir Thomas Beecham. Act 3 of 'The Mastersingers' and its great choral finale was especially popular. The last Triennial Festival to end with Wagner was in 1947: a selection from 'Mastersingers' brought that year's event to a blazing conclusion.

Covent Garden Opera staged at the Grand Theatre a new production of Handel's dramatic oratorio Samson. This was a highlight of the 1958 Centenary Festival. The performance on 17th October 1958, was given in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen, HRH Prince Philip, HRH the Princess Royal and the Queen's cousin, Lord Harewood, artistic director of the Triennial Festival. Canadian tenor Jon Vickers in the title role and Australian soprano Joan Sutherland as an Israelite Woman, were then at the threshold of major international careers.